Shortly after, Folcik moved to New Hampshire, a state she was constantly driving up to in order to run and be outdoors. She quit her job as a dental hygienist in East Hampton, Conn., and put trust in her life coach who said, “You can be athletic and be beautiful, too,” Folcik said.

She took a pay cut to be happy.

“And I’d rather be happy than have a ton of money,” she said.

Currently sponsored by La Sportiva, Choucas Hats, UltrAspire and Julbo sunglasses, Folcik trains daily with help from her Vermont-based ultra runner coach, Jack Pilla. Folcik currently runs at least 20 races a year, with more than 10 of them over marathon distance. Folcik has run multiple 100-milers and broken the women’s course record by two hours in last year’s Superior Fall Trail race in Minnesota. She came in 7th place overall.

Her fiance, Ryan Welts, who she met at a 50-miler race and got engaged to at another 50-miler, came in third place overall in the 100-miler in Minnesota.

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Courtesy Photo of Joe Viger/
Kristina Folcik runs at least 20 races a year, with 10 being over marathon distance.

“To train, I run about 60 to 100 miles a week,” she said, adding she eats a healthy diet that consists of a lot of food to keep up with her exercise.

On Tuesday, Folcik said she would do a 10-mile run and eat plenty of carbohydrates and vegetables and a lean meat for dinner. Her running this week would be on pavement, but many weeks she spends running on snowshoes and competing in races anywhere from 3 miles to marathon distance in the snow.

Running and eating well inspires her and now she wants to inspire others.

Starting this spring, Folcik will be offering two different running camp programs to bring experienced and nonexperienced runners out onto the courses and trails Folcik loves in the Live Free or Die state.

“My goal is just get people living a healthier lifestyle,” she said.

For men or women who have never run before, Folcik has created a six-month program that will start in April to, in her words, “get people off the couch.”

Folcik said she will train people who have never run before how to run a 12-mile trail race. The program will teach people how to train, avoid injury and eat healthy. The program will begin with walking and running just a mile at a time.

Runners will meet with Folcik once a week, with a daily training schedule to do on their own. The goal is for runners to race at Vulcans Fury in Pawtuckaway on Oct. 19 with Folcik. The cost of the program is $550 and there is room available for 12 to 14 people.

This group of runners will also receive free entry into a summer cross-country race series in Northwood.

“The second running camp is for women who know how to run,” she said. If a runner is capable of going a 10-mile distance and wants to take it to the next level, Folcik recommends this program.

From May 17 to May 20, Folcik will take six women to a large log cabin on the top of a mountain in Jackson for an all-exclusive getaway. The women will learn to run faster and further through trails while testing out six different diets including gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and high-protein. Women will also have the opportunity to be pampered all afternoon with massages, wellness treatments and be educated by Folcik’s running coach and a sports psychologist. Hair and makeup training will also be offered. This program is $1,800 and there are just four spots available.

“I love what I do and I want to share it,” she said.

Folcik is running a 50K in three weeks in Virginia and a 100K in Vail, Colo., in September.

She has no plans to stop running anytime soon.

“The top ultra runners are in their mid 40s,” she said, hoping to be just like them at their age.

“You never know where life is going to take you, but I know I just want to be happy,” she said.

For more information about Folcik or to register for her running programs, visit her website at blog.dangergirldh.com.